Have you ever imagined the benefits that a good memory can bring to you? 【小题1】 Here are four ways to improve your memory.

【小题2】 There is evidence that sleep plays a vital role in the consolidation of memories relating to learning motor skills, such as learning to play a musical instrument or ride a bike. Having a full night’s sleep soon after gaining a new skill helps consolidate the processes involved, so they can later be performed well.

It’s rewarding to continue education. Older people are often told to adopt a “use it or lose it” approach to maintaining cognitive (认知的) function. 【小题3】 In a 2016 study, US researchers found participants aged 60-90 who spent 15 hours a week for three months learning a complex skill, such as digital photography, saw significant improvements in memory tests.

Taking a break counts. 【小题4】 More than a century ago, German scientists showed that people performed almost twice as well in memory tests if they took breaks.

It’s useful to stay social. Having an active social life delays memory loss as we age, US scientists who asked people in their 50s and 60s to do memory tests every other year between 2001 and 2007 found the decline in recall abilities of their most sociable subjects to be half that of the least well connected. 【小题5】

The other day I was shopping at a local store and came upon a lady from India squatting（蹲）on the floor looking for a certain product on the bottom shelf. She sprang up when she saw me as if to get out of my way. Apologetically she explained that she was a cashier at a nearby store and was on her lunch break trying to geta few needed items before her time was up.

I reassured her, “I am in no hurry. Go ahead and do what you need to do.” While she searched for a particular brand, she said that sometimes customers were rude to her at the store and she really appreciated my kindness. I told her that I had noticed cashiers being treated rudely by some people.

I also explained to her that I was a retired nurse and understood some of what she was saying first hand. Sometimes patients, families, or doctors could be very rude or mean. But I tried to understand why they were feeling that way and let it go. “The world would be a better place if we all acted kindly toward each other. Those who are rude may have bad karma coming after them eventually.” I added.

She nodded and was surprised, “So you know about karma?” My reply was simple. “A little bit. Karma is the same thing as doing something bad and it comes back to bite you on the butt.” She paused, looked puzzled, then broke out in a big smile and covered her mouth with her hand, laughing as she walked away.

It felt so good that in a brief exchange I showed her there were kind people in the world, which might have helped her regain her faith in humanity.